HILLSDALE ó As the Hillsdale Rotary Club completed one Phase of the Sandy Beach Project Saturday, the next phase was officially announced and a challenge to the community was made. During Saturdayís rededication of the newly renovated concession stand, Rotarian Richard Moore announced that a private donor has pledged $25,000 to the next phase of the project.

But thereís a catch. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Rotary that they would only donate the money if the community can raise the same amount in the next six months. Moore accepted the challenge and while he knows its a lot to ask, he thinks the community will respond.

"Iím confident. Iím very confident. We have a couple fund raisers coming up and I think that is going to help out a bit," Moore said. "But I just think that people like challenges. I donít think there is any doubt that people are going to feed into that."

Moore said a lot of his confidence in the next phase stems from what has already been accomplished at the site. Between the new concession stand being completed this year and the beach restoration previously, Moore says the community has seen what can be accomplished.

"When people see this project completed, people are flocking over here to check it out. People have given us the money before we completed it and now that they can see that we did what we supposed to do," Moore said. "As long as people continue to give us the money, weíll continue to go along with the different phases."

The next phase is scheduled to include an upgrade to the beachís playground equipment which Moore said was "dated."

Prior to the announcement, the rededication of the concession stand featured speeches from member of the Rotary and officials from the city of Hillsdale.

"I do thank the Rotary on behalf of the mayor, the council and the citizens of the city of Hillsdale," said City Manager Linda Brown.

Rotary President Eric Macy then turned over the building keys to the city. The concession stand officially opened after the ceremony and patrons flocked to purchase drinks and soft serve ice cream.

"This really is a community base project, everyone has contributed to it," said Michelle Loren, the cityís head of recreation. "It is my hope as well as the cityís that we continue to be proud of this, support it and keep it as beautiful as it is in the future.

"Itís just one more thing that Rotary has done thatís pulled the community together and it shows what community can do and will continue to do in the future."